Automatic train-speed-control device



' T. II. THOMAS. AUTOMATIC T RAIN SPEED CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV2I. I9I9.

Patented o0t.'12,1920.

I l, I

YMIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR T HOMAS H .THOMAS ATTORNEY UNITED STATES YPATENT" OFFICE.

THOMAS H. THOMAS, OF EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A. COB/FORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-SPEED-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed November 21, 1919.

T o all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS H. THOMAS, a

Ycitizen of the United States, residing at tion, as by the breaking of the governor shaft, for example, then it will be evident that the speed control apparatus will not be operative to limit the speed of the train.

The principal object'of my invention is lto provide means for limiting the speed of the train to a predetermined degree upon v failure of the speed governor device.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a diagrammatic sectional view of a train speed controlling apparatus embodying my invention.

As shown in the drawing, Ythe train speed controlling apparatus may comprise a'governor device 1, operated according to the speed of the train for controlling mechanism by which the speed of the train is regulated, a brake application valve device 2, an additional governor device 3, and a magnet valve device 4.

The governor device 1 may comprise governor balls 5, rotatable with a member 6, which is operatively connected to an axle or other rotating part of the vehicle, so that the governor balls are rotated at a speed propor- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 339,604.

of member 6, according to the speed of the train, tends to move the sleeve 7 and shaft 10 in one direction, while a coil spring 11 acts on said sleeve to oppose this vmovement and tends to move the sleeve in the opposite direction.

Attached to the shaft 10 is a crosshead 12, which is adapted to operate mechanism for regulating the speed of the train, such as that disclosed v in lthe prior. Patent No. 1,316,205 of Walter V.' Turner dated September 16, 1919.

The brake application valve device 2 may comprise a) casing, having a piston chamber 13, containinga piston 14, and a valve chamber 15, connected by pipe 16 to a source of fluid under pressure and containing av slide valve 17, adapted to beoperated by piston 14.

The slide valve 17 controls the venting of fiuid from the usual brake pipe 18, a reducanV application of the brakes in the well known manner.

The electro-magnet of the magnet valve .device 4 is'adapted to operate a valve 19 which controls communication from piston chamber 13 through pipe 2O toa pipe 21. A vent valve 22, adapted to beoperated by an' adjustable tappet 23, carriedybycrosshead 12, controls the venting of fluid under pressure from pipe 21 to the atmosphere.

The governor device 3 controls the electric circuit of the magnet device 4 and may comprise governor balls 24 connected to a member 25 which isoperatively connected to the car axle so as to rotate at a speed proportional tothe speed of the train.

The governor .balls 24 act on a stem 26, carrying at one end a contact ring 27 for closing the circuit of the magnet device 4.

' The magnet circuit contains a source of current 28, and when the speed. of the train is less than a predeterminedv degree the contact 27 closes the magnet circuitso asto energize the magnet 'device 4 and thereby Ahold the valve 19 closed.

` 5 by centrifugal action due to the rotation will operate the shaft 26 so as to open the Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

tion in pressure in which is adapted to effect circuit of the magnet device 4 and thus per- V mit the valve 19 to unseat.. Communication is thereby established from pipe 2l t0 pipe 20, but if the speed governor device 1 is operative, the valve 22 will be closed, by the operation ofthe governor balls 5, Which 'cause' the shaft 10 and the'crosshead'12 to be shifted outwardly, so as to move the tappet 23 avvay from the valve 2 2. l

If, however, the governor should fail, due

Y to breakageof ,parts or otherwise, sincethe governor balls then cease to rotate, vthe spring 11 Will shift the shaft 10 and the crosshead 12, so that the tappet 23 vvillV act to open the valve 22.

Y If-the speed of the train exceeds apredetermined degree atl the time the'speed governor l fails, the circuit of the magnet device Y 4 VWill' be open",V so Vthat the valve 19 estab- Y Y It Will now be conditions, fluid under pressure will be vent- Yedl fromA piston 'chamber 1301i the brake ap- Ylishes communication from pipe '21 to pipe 20.- f Y V seen that under the above plication valve device 2, so that piston l will operate thevalve 17 to connect the brake pipe Y V18, throughj cavity 29, with exhaust port 30.

Fluid under pressure vvillth'enV be vented fromthe brake pipe 18 to Vthereby cause an application: of the brakesin the Well vknovvn manner vand the'consequent'reduction in the then. equalizes V into piston chamber v 13, through :port 31 in pistony '14, permitting .the .'spring32'to shift 'the'.piston Yll'and slide valve '17 to normalposition, in .Which the brake pipe 18- is cut-olf from Vtheexhaust Y' port 3o..

The brake-pipe pressure lcan then be in- Y creased to 'release'.the*brakes-'and' thereby permit thetrainto proceed Vat aV speed less than-the speediV at which the governor device 3 operates toopenthe-Inagnet circuit;V -Y

' The governordevice 3 may bedirectly connected'to the axleofthe vehicle, so that therelwill be. little danger of failure of this ,Y governor.l

By VtheY operation. of the above'described construction',` the trainspeed is prevented .fromY exceeding'a predetermined degree in case the speed governor'should fail,'and the train speed/is reduced, ifthe failure occurs While the train is running at a speedexceeding'the predetermined loW speedatiwhich thisconstruction isadj'nsted to operate-.

Having noW described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iS V y v 1. Ina train speed control apparatus, the combination With a governor device responsive tothe vtrain speed for regulating the speed of the train, of means operative upon failure of the governor v device for limiting the speed of the train.` 'i

2. In atrain speed vcontrol apparatus, the combination with a governor device responsive to the train speed for regulating the speed of the train, of means operative at a train speed exceeding a predetermined degree, upon failureof the governor device, forlimiting the speed of the-train.

3. In a train speed control apparatus, th

sive to the train speed for regulating, the speed of the train, of a' valve device operated by a variation in lfluid pressure for effectingv an application of the brakes, and valve means operatedfupon failure of said combination with a governor device responi governor device for varying the pressure on saidl valve device.

Y 4l. In a train speed controlapparatus, the Y combination vvith'a governor device responsive to the train speed for regulating the speed'of the train, of a valve device operated, hva-variation influid pressure for effecting an application of the brakes, a valve operatedupon failure of said governor device. forvarying the fluid; pressure on Vvsaid valve` device, and a valve operated according i.

to the'speed of the'train for controllingV communication'throughV Which the fluid pressure on said valve device'is varied. Y j

5. In a train. speed controlapparatus, theV combination With a Y governor device Voperated accordingtothe speed of the train for regulating the speed ofthe train, of Va valve device operated upon a reduction in fluidV pressuretherein, for effecting an application of the bralres,"aV valve operatedY by said governor device upon failure of same for venting, fluid' pressure from said valvel device, aY valve for4 lcontrolling Vcommunication through which.Y fluid-is vented from said valve device, and a governor device operated according to the-speed ofthe trainV for Vcontrolling said valve;

6.V In a train speed contr-ol apparatus, the

combination With a governor device "operated according to the speed ofthe trainffor regulating the'V speed of thetrain, of a Yvalve device operated upon areduction-in fluid pressure therein, foreffecting an application of the brakes, a'valvef'operated by said gov- Y Vernor devicenpon failure ofsamefor vent- Ving fluid pressure Yfrom said valvedevice, i a'valve., fory Vcontrolling communication through which luidfis vented Yfrom saidV Y valveVV device, fa' magnet for'operating" said valve, and afgovernor device operated ac- 7. In a train speed control apparatus, the trolled by said governor device and operacombination with a governor device operative to prevent the operation of said means 10 tive according to the train speed for regulatat a train speed less than a predetermined ing the speed of the train, of means operadegree. tive upon failure of the governor device for In testimony whereof I have hereunto set effecting a reduction in the speed of the my hand. train, a governor device operated according to the speed of the train, and a device con- THOMAS H. THOMAS. 

